Do you have a favorite brand? One that you love for whatever reason? Maybe the company has products that you love the quality of; or perhaps you love the prices; whatever the reason, it’s a brand that you trust. I was given the opportunity to attend an immersion event for a brand in the Health and Wellness / Natural Products industry; and at the end of the event, I’d found a favorite brand. And it is NOW Foods. This post is sponsored by NOW Foods. I am thrilled to be working with the NOW brand. They flew me out to Chicago so I could attend their #NOWGetFit Immersion event. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

NOW Foods | Affordable Natural Products

Before the trip to Chicago for Now Foods’ Immersion Event, I had heard the brand name before and seen the bright orange protein powder tubs in health food stores. I had tried the NOW Sports Amino Powder Pre-Workout (and loved it, might I add!). But my knowledge beyond that was minimal.

Working with FitFluential, the NOW brand sponsored an event for bloggers to attend to learn about NOW. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this event, learn about NOW’s values, mission, and processes, and spread the word. Before I get into the details of the trip and the brand, I want to share some quick pictures from the event.

The biggest takeaway from the weekend was that I can trust the NOW brand.

Here’s Why:

1.The ingredients they put into their products are of the BEST quality.

Furthermore, one of their promise’s to the consumer is of quality. They have a Quality Control and Quality Assurance Program, which I have seen in action. NOW goes above and beyond the regulations (which includes FDA inspections) and what is required of the supplement industry to ensure pure, effective, and natural products.

While visiting one of the NOW Plants in Illinois, I was able to see some of the thousands of tests on materials and products that they conduct to make sure that products are safe from contamination, adulteration, and ingredient substitution. Not to mention, they are one of just a few supplement suppliers that have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification.

It is all too common for supplement brands and suppliers to skip out on quality ingredients and quality checks in order to push a product to the public.

2. The price of their products is literally unbeatable.

When you look at the quality of the ingredients and the precision of their health and safety checks, you’ll be shocked at how affordable the products are.

Throughout my time with NOW, it was very clear to me that their mission is to produce the best products at an affordable price. When speaking with the CEO and the founder’s son, they both said that they didn’t want people to have to choose between paying a bill and living a healthy life. As a counselor that primarily works with children and families that live at or under the poverty line, this truly struck a chord with me.

3. The company and it’s employees feel like a family.

And along those lines, every consumer and purchaser of NOW products brings you into that family as well.

Have you ever met a CEO of a huge corporation or business that knew the name of every employee? From the men and women on the board to the men and women who pack the boxes for distribution? I hadn’t until I met Jim Emme, CEO of NOW Foods.

We heard a lot about how NOW values its employees. For instance, the company gives a bonus to all employees every quarter (and the size of that bonus depends on how well the company does that quarter) but every single employee, from the CEO to the plant workers, gets the exact same bonus. Additionally, the Board evaluates the salaries of the employee’s yearly to make sure that they can support themselves and their families with their earnings. It was so refreshing to hear how they treat everyone like family.

We also saw how NOW values their employees. During our tour of the plant, Mr. Emme greeted and conversed with every employee in the building. He knew their names, knew their families, and genuinely cared about what they had to say. I was floored! It was clear to see that the employees truly enjoyed their job… We even met an employee that had been working with NOW for 25 years. That is a true testament to how the company treats their employees.

4. You can get such a variety of products and know that with every item you purchase, it’s the best of the best.

Like I mentioned before, I had a very limited knowledge on the NOW brand and it’s products. In case you aren’t familiar either, here are the different NOW lines.

Dietary Supplements: Dietary supplements help make sure that you get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs! I personally take their ProBiotics. They’re life-changing. I’ll be publishing a post on these this month. Stay tuned!

Sports Nutrition: This includes things like: Protein powders, BCAAs, pre-workout, and SO MUCH MORE!

Natural Foods: In almost every person’s fitness journey, they struggle with their Food and Diet at some point. NOW Foods has some AMAZING foods, and cooking aids (oils, nut butters, etc.) to help you reach your goals! I have tried out some new recipes with their foods that will be posted on Instagram in the coming weeks! NOW Foods also has some awesome recipes and pointers that they post as well on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Essential Oils: I had no experience whatsoever with Essential Oils prior to the Immersion Event. But I was able to learn some of the basics and uses. They even taught us how to make a gym cleaning spray and massage oil with some of the oils!

NOW Pets: Their Pet Line is their newest and I am so excited about this! I have 2 labs (who are basically my babies) and I want them to live happy and healthy lives, too!

My Favorite NOW Products

Pea Protein Powder: I’ve been using this post-workout for the last 2 weeks. LOVE IT! The taste is phenomenal… and that is one of the most important things to me. I can’t eat or drink something that I can barely get down!

Better Stevia: Zero calorie, low glycemic natural sweetener. I’ll never go back to others after trying Better Stevia. They also have French Vanilla Better Stevia which is PERFECT for my morning coffee!

Avocado Oil: Notice that the label says Ellyndale, which is part of NOW. So you know it’s the same top notch quality!

Probiotics: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. THESE PROBIOTICS ARE LIFE-CHANGING!!!

Would you like to try some products from NOW (like the ones in the picture above)?

There are so many diets out there that promise quick, drastic results. What so many people fail to realize is that they could be harming their bodies, instead of helping. Last week, you may have stumbled across “Uncovering Fad Diets: Top 5 Diets Worth Your Time!” on Cardio, Weights, and Protein Shakes. One diet, the Ketogenic Diet, wasn’t listed in this post because I wanted to dedicate an entire post on it.

The Ketogenic Diet Explained

When I first tried Keto, I was wary of it… but since it made sense to me, I decided to see how I liked it. Once you see the basics, I think it will make sense to you too. But just because it has worked for some, doesn’t mean it will work for all! The biggest key to fitness and health is finding what’s best for YOU! Always consult your medical doctor as well when considering making drastic changes to your diet.

The Basics of The Ketogenic Diet:

High Fat, Low Carb Diet Plan

Comes from the word Ketosis: A metabolic process where your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates (glucose) to use for energy, so it uses fat instead. When fat is used for energy, ketone bodies are released – which is a type of acid and it is broken down through the liver.

Meal Breakdown: 70-75% fats, 20-25% Protein, >5% Carbohydrates

The Benefits of a High-Fat, Low Carb Ketogenic Weight Loss Diet Plan:

Trains the body to use fat as fuel

Once your body becomes accustomed to the high-fat and low-carb diet, you may be able to consume fewer calories and still feel full

By following the Ketogenic Diet Plan en for 4-6 weeks, your body will create compounds called ketone bodies in the blood, resulting in “ketosis.” Ketosis allows your body to quickly lean muscle and lose weight.

So, What is the Ketogenic Diet Plan like?

The Keto Diet can be tricky when it comes to getting the right ratios of macronutrients in your meals. One of the best ways to get your macros right with when you’re using Ketosis for weight loss is to use the Myoplex Meal Replacement Shake. It does all the “heavy lifting” for you (a.k.a. it already has the nutrient ratios correct!). Myoplex also has great ketogenic diet resources!

Myoplex is a company that makes high quality products and supplements for athletes that follow the Ketogenic Diet Plan. There are a lot of supplements out there that are plagued with excess sugar and processed nonsense (not all, but quite a few). But Myoplex has the low-carb, high-fat mindset in all their products. The have Whey protein bars, Whey protein powder (Heck Yeah for Ketosis Protein!), Ready-to-drink Shakes, pre-workout, whey isolate, etc. When you have something as tasty and athlete-oriented as Myoplex, you need to take advantage of it!

This week we have a new author! Enozia Vakil. A Writer. Editor. Social media enthusiast. Budding animator. Goal digger. Enjoy Enozia’s article about some of the best diets to lose weight fast! In this article, Enozia discusses some of the best diets to lose weight fast (while still being safe and healthy). Enjoy!

Look up ‘weight loss diets’ or “best diets to lose weight fast” online; and you’ll be bombarded with all sorts of crazy ‘flat-belly-in-3-days’ diets and meal plans and fad diets. But are they all what we just called them- crazy?

It turns out, some of these ‘fad diets’ actually have a pretty solid logic to back up how they work. Studies are now confirming their effectiveness when it comes to burning fat. Sounds interesting right? Read on to know more about the 5 best fad diets that are actually worth your time!

The Sugarcane Juice Diet

Among the most undiscovered and underrated weight loss diets there are, the Sugarcane Juice Diet is one worth knowing about. Consuming sugarcane juice for weight loss may not seem like the best idea ever. But it turns out, considering that sugarcane juice is packed with superb health benefits, it could actually be worth it!

The Alkaline Diet

The alkaline diet is the much needed diet for us- 21st century people. Why? Well, because literally everything that we consume today (from packaged coconut milk to restaurant takeouts) is packed with preservatives and flavoring agents, all of which have created a highly acidic environment in the gut. This diet, which focuses on consuming more alkaline foods, doesn’t just help with weight loss. But it also regulates the pH of the digestive system.

The Paleo Diet

This one’s probably the most popular fad diets out there. I’m saying fad because there aren’t enough conclusive studies to support its credibility… and a favorite among many healthy eating enthusiasts too! It revolves around eating more of foods that our ancestors might have consumed (think lamb and poultry) and ditching processed foods.

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is undoubtedly the healthiest (and safest) fad diet. Olive oil, fresh veggies, fish and all the good parts are there. So, there’s no starving your body of the best things involved. Losing weight and getting back in shape is just a happy accident with this one. There are tons of other benefits that make it a sure winner.

The Low Carb Diet

There are several variations of this diet… And certain studies have also backed up this one: sticking to a diet low in carbs could actually help you shed off those extra pounds. On the downside though, it is definitely not recommended for individuals who have high blood cholesterol.

Is Sparkling Water Good For You?

If there’s one thing that I’ve struggled with since I was a kid, it’s my addiction to soda. I’ve never been a water drinker; and when asked, my first choice will always be a Diet Coke, Coke Zero, or something of the like. Now that I’ve made the choice to lead a healthier and more positive life, I’ve had to address this soda addiction…and its been HARD. I have been able to ween myself off of the sugar… but I miss the carbonation of my favorite sodas! My friends and family have recommended sparkling water to me – as it has the carbonation and bubbles that I’ve been missing.

Thankfully (and coincidentally!), I’ve given the opportunity to try Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water Detox Challenge. Before I started the challenge, I did my research. Here’s some of what I found out:

4. Due to its well-balanced content of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, Gerolsteiner Mineral Water tastes neither salty, bitter nor sour – but pleasantly natural and pure.

5. A liter of Gerolsteiner contains more than 1,800 mg of bicarbonate. Bicarbonate minimizes the effect of heartburn, neutralizes the occasional excess stomach acid, and balances the pH level in the stomach.

6. The magnesium in Gerolsteiner is important for healthy muscles, supports your energy metabolism, and supports your nervous system functions.

The Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water Detox Challenge

Sounds good to me! So here’s the challenge. Replace everything you drink with Gerolsteiner’s Mineral Water for 5 days starting on September 12. No changes to your diet or workout routine. PERFECT! Even better – there’s a Facebook group filled with supporters and good information! So join me on this detox and there’s even a possibility to win a free supply!

I can’t wait to share my experience with the challenge! So stay tuned!

Coffee Flavored Pudding Pop Recipe

Since starting Cardio, Weights, and Protein Shakes, I have been able to tap into my creativity — in the kitchen! Trying out new recipes, making my own recipes, and perfecting old recipes… I love it! I recently started buying Café Breaks pudding (see my previous post here), and I decided to explore some options for a summer recipe incorporating the delicious treat. Here in Georgia, the temperature gets over 90 degrees daily. So I knew I needed a cool snack to combat the summer heat. I also don’t have a lot of time on my hands to make snacks. So it had to be a simple recipe, too.

Drum roll please…

I introduce to you…

Café Breaks Pudding Pops!

You have 4 flavor options for your Café Breaks Pudding Pops: Mocha Latte, Caramel Latte, Chai Latte, and French Vanilla Latte! Café Breaks is gluten and preservative – free and less than 100 calories! Hooray! You can get them at Ingles or Walmart… and you can use this Ibotta coupon!!

The Best Gummy Vitamins

June has been one whirlwind of a month! From the end of the school year with my kiddos, to moving, to a beach trip, etc., I’ve been one busy woman. To add to things, my site went down for a couple of days (which is why this post wasn’t posted when I intended!).

What are SmartyPants Vitamins?

Now that it’s summer, and I’m not in the routine of school… I’ve been struggling to keep my nutrition routine. The healthy and clean eating has taken a little bit of a hit the past few weeks… but it’s SO important to me that I’m fueling my body with what it needs to thrive. SmartyPants Vitamins came into my life at the perfect time. I’ve always wanted to take a vitamins, and I have scoured the grocery store and local pharmacies for the perfect one. Little did I know, the perfect one would come to me! So here’s the deal with SmartyPants Vitamins:

SmartyPants has vitamins for women, men, kids, and more!! I can’t wait to have these in my daily routine. Stay tuned for my experience with these vitamins!

Hi! Welcome to Cardio, Weights, & Protein Shakes. I’m a 20-something from Atlanta, GA where I work as a certified school counselor and personal trainer. I have a B.S. in Psychology, a B.A. in Sociology, and a M. Ed. in Professional Counseling from the University of Georgia. I started Cardio, Weights, & Protein Shakes in 2015 to share my journey in fitness, health, and life in general.